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Milli-PEET: Millipede Systematics

Millipedes (Diplopoda) are classified together with the centipedes (Chilopoda), the pauropods and the symphylans in the group Myriapoda.

The monophyly of the Myriapoda has long been debated. Several morphological characters, e.g., the position of the genital opening (anterior in Diplopoda, Pauropoda and Symphyla; posterior in Chilopoda), the number of mouth parts (two in Diplopoda and Pauropoda; three in Symphyla and Chilopoda) suggest conflicting relationships. Numerous new studies are underway, many of them employing molecular as well as morphological characters. Currently, arthropod relationships (e.g., the Pancrustacea hypothesis) are the main focus of many systematic studies.

The Pauropoda are so far the undisputed sistergroup to the Diplopoda, mainly supported by two shared characters, the gnathochilarium of the mouth parts and the legless first trunk segment, the collum. The 16 orders of millipedes remained remarkably stable (with the exception of conflicting classifications between parts of the Spirostreptida and Julida). Hoffman (1980, see Bibliography) gives an excellent and detailed review of the classification history of the Diplopoda. For a recent overview see Sierwald & Bond, 2007. Annual Review of Entomology 57, 401-420.

The following files contain cladograms representing currently used classifications. They are provided for information only and are not intended as new phylogenetic hypotheses.